DHR relief ride for Hill students soon

Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) will soon introduce special train rides for school students between Ghum and Darjeeling following a request from the civil administration, amid worsening traffic congestion and acute vehicle shortages during the peak tourist season.The service is expected to bring relief to hundreds of students who struggle daily to commute through long traffic snarls and an increasing lack of vehicles in the hills. DHR director Rishab Choudhary said the administration had written to the railway authorities seeking a dedicated service for students."The proposed morning service from Ghum to Darjeeling is expected to depart at 6.15 am, while the return service from Darjeeling to Ghum has been planned for 5.30 pm. The rides are likely to be operated at a minimal cost exclusively for students. We will begin the rides at the earliest," said Choudhary.Residents said the eight-kilometre journey between Ghum and Darjeeling, which once took around 20 minutes, now often stretches to nearly two hours during peak hours. With most taxis engaged in ferrying tourists, local commuters are frequently left stranded for hours."School students, especially after classes end, often struggle to find vehicles to return home. This special train service will at least provide relief to students and help them reach home on time," said Bimla Rai, a parent."In the morning, we somehow manage to get a vehicle to Darjeeling, but after school we often have to walk extra miles because we do not get vehicles even after waiting for hours at the Ghum syndicate. Either the taxis are packed with tourists or there are no vehicles at all," a student said.